Music Scholarships: Full Rides At Universities?

do universities offer full scholarships to students performing in music

Music scholarships are offered by universities, colleges, schools, and private organisations. These scholarships are often awarded based on auditions and academic performance. Some scholarships are available for students of a particular genre, while others are for specific instruments. There are also scholarships for students with financial needs or from certain regions. Many scholarships are competitive and require a strategic approach to stand out. Some scholarships offer a full ride, covering tuition, fees, and other expenses, and some are renewable for up to four years.

Characteristics Values
Scholarship Amount Varying amounts, some full-ride
Eligibility High school seniors, undergraduates, graduates, LGBTQ+ students, students of colour, jazz performers, classical composers, music therapy interns, etc.
Requirements Auditions, academic performance, essays, membership of organisations, etc.
Providers Universities, non-profits, private organisations, community foundations, professional organisations, schools of music, etc.

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Scholarships for music majors

Scholarships are available for music majors, with some specifically for performance, composition, or both. Many scholarships are offered by individual universities or colleges, while others are provided by external organisations.

Scholarships offered by universities and colleges

Many universities and colleges offer scholarships for music students, which are often awarded based on auditions or academic performance. For example, Augustana University offers scholarships for music, theatre, and art, which are open to students with any academic major. Similarly, the UCA Department of Music awards scholarships to promising incoming students through an audition process.

Scholarships offered by external organisations

There are also numerous scholarships offered by external organisations, which are often targeted at specific groups of students. For instance, the Grand Rapids Community Foundation offers several scholarships for music students, including the Guy D. and Mary Edith Halladay Music Scholarship, which is open to any graduate-level student majoring in music in the US, and the Llewellyn L. Cayvan String Instrument Scholarship, which is for students studying violin, viola, violoncello, or bass viol. The Saginaw Community Foundation also provides scholarships for high school, community college, university, and vocational students, including the Joanne Robertson Memorial Scholarship for graduating high school seniors from Saginaw County who plan to major in music.

Scholarships for specific groups of students

Several scholarships are aimed at specific groups of students, such as the Micky Golomb Memorial Scholarship, which offers up to $5,000 for jazz students in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and the Miller Family Music Education Scholarship, which is for graduates or graduating high school students in Door County or the Fox cities in Wisconsin. The Lift Up Our Voices Scholarship is another example, which focuses on increasing the number of female-identifying students and students of colour in music composition.

National scholarships

There are also scholarships available for students across the country, such as the "Creativity Takes Courage" scholarship, which is open to students studying any form of visual and/or performing arts, and the Schmidt Vocal Competition, which provides need-based scholarship assistance to winners who pursue a career in music.

Scholarships for specific genres

Some scholarships are tailored towards students of a particular genre. For example, the Vandoren Emerging Artist Competition has categories for classical clarinet, saxophone, and jazz, while the John Lennon Scholarships are aimed at student songwriters and composers of contemporary musical genres, including pop, rock, and indie.

Other scholarship opportunities

In addition to the above, there are various other scholarship opportunities for music majors, including small scholarships that can add up to a significant contribution towards tuition costs, as well as scholarships offered by professional organisations or through summer music programs.

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Scholarships for performing arts students

Scholarships are a great way to fund your education in the performing arts. Many universities, music schools, conservatories, and private organisations offer scholarships to students pursuing performing arts. Here are some tips and specific scholarships to consider:

Tips for Finding Scholarships:

  • Start your search early: It's never too early to begin applying for scholarships. You can start as early as 14 years old and in high school. The sooner you begin, the more scholarships you can apply for, increasing your chances of winning.
  • Explore different scholarship providers: In addition to universities, look into scholarships offered by music schools, conservatories, and private organisations.
  • Consider your niche: Graduate students should search for scholarships tailored to their specific niche to reduce the applicant pool and increase their chances.
  • Look for state-specific scholarships: Scholarships that are only open to students in certain states often have fewer eligible applicants, giving you a better chance of winning.
  • Reach out to your school of interest: Contact the financial aid office at your school of interest to inquire about full-tuition scholarships, grants, and fellowships.
  • Audition and submission requirements: Many scholarships in the performing arts require auditions or submissions, so be prepared to showcase your talent through performance, recordings, or portfolios.

Specific Scholarships for Performing Arts Students:

  • The ASCAP Foundation: Offers scholarships and awards to support songwriters, composers, and musicians across various genres, providing financial aid and mentorship opportunities.
  • Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Scholarships: Awards are given to students who excel in piano, voice, and instrumental performance, often tied to competition results and including mentorship.
  • National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation Scholarship: Supports students pursuing careers in music business, music education, and music therapy, with awards based on academic performance and musical potential.
  • The NFAA youngARTS Program: Specifically for high school students/high school seniors who are US citizens or permanent residents. Winners receive cash prizes ranging from $100 to $10,000.
  • The Micky Golomb Memorial Scholarship: Offers up to $5,000 for tuition assistance to students enrolled in a music degree program and dedicated to pursuing a career in jazz performance and/or education.
  • The Creativity Takes Courage Scholarship: Open to students studying any form of visual and/or performing arts. Applicants are reviewed based on the quality of their essay and the quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform.
  • The Miller Family Music Education Scholarship: Available to graduates or graduating high school students residing in specific counties in Wisconsin who plan to pursue studies in music or performance.
  • The Grand Rapids Community Foundation Scholarships: Offers various scholarships for students in Western Michigan, including the Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids Minority Scholarship for students of colour majoring in Fine Arts.

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Scholarships for music composition

Many universities and colleges offer scholarships for music students, including those focusing on music composition. Some scholarships are available for high school students, while others are aimed at undergraduate or graduate students.

The following scholarships are available for music composition students:

  • The ASCAP Foundation Louis Armstrong Scholarship is for a jazz composition student at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College/City University of New York.
  • The ASCAP Foundation Charlotte V. Bergen Scholarship is awarded to the top ASCAP Foundation Morton Gould Young Composer aged 18 or under.
  • The Irving Burgie Scholarship is for an aspiring African-American songwriter from New York City, awarded alternately to the Berklee College of Music and the University of Southern California.
  • The ASCAP Foundation Fran Morgenstern Davis Scholarships are presented annually to two full-time undergraduate jazz composition students at the Manhattan School of Music.
  • A scholarship is offered each year to a composition student at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, funded by an endowment from the Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation.
  • The Frederick Loewe Foundation Scholarship is presented annually to a student of musical theatre composition at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.
  • The ASCAP Foundation Henry Mancini Music Fellowship supports a talented young film composer participating in the ASCAP/Columbia University Film Scoring Workshop or the ASCAP/NYU Film Scoring Workshop.
  • The Southeastern Performance Apparel Music Education Scholarship is awarded to graduating high school seniors intending to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education.
  • The Lift Up Our Voices Scholarship offers $3,500 to female-identifying students and students of colour in the field of music composition.

Other Music Scholarships

In addition to the above, there are numerous other scholarships for music students, including those for performance, education, and composition. Some scholarships are available for students at specific colleges or universities, while others are open to students across the country. Many scholarships are also available for students with a particular academic or talent profile. For example, some scholarships are reserved for students of colour, female-identifying students, or students from a particular hometown or state.

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Scholarships for music therapy students

Many universities and colleges offer scholarships for students with an interest in music, including music therapy. Some scholarships are available for students who minor or concentrate in music, while others are for students who major in music.

The Saginaw Community Foundation, for example, administers scholarship programs for high school, community college, university, and vocational students. The Joanne Robertson Memorial Scholarship, established to celebrate the life of Joanne Robertson, a dedicated community servant and supporter of the performing arts, is awarded to graduating high school seniors from Saginaw County pursuing a major in music at an accredited college or university. Academic excellence is a qualification for this scholarship.

The Micky Golomb Memorial Scholarship is another scholarship for students enrolled in a music degree program. The Jazz Society of Fairfield County offers up to $5,000 for tuition assistance to students dedicated to pursuing a career in jazz performance and/or jazz education.

The Grand Rapids Community Foundation offers several scholarships for music students, including the Guy D. and Mary Edith Halladay Music Scholarship, which is open to any graduate-level student majoring in music at any college in the U.S. The Grand Rapids Community Foundation's Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids Minority Scholarship is awarded to students of color attending a non-profit public or private college or university in Western Michigan, majoring in Fine Arts, including all visual and performing art forms.

The Miller Family Music Education Scholarship is available to graduates or graduating high school students residing in Door County or the Fox cities in Wisconsin who plan to pursue studies in music or performance.

Some scholarships are also offered by individual colleges or universities, such as Augustana University, which offers scholarships in music, theater, or art. New students can apply for these scholarships, and any academic major is eligible. Arts scholarships are annual allocations that are automatically renewable, but criteria for maintaining a scholarship may vary by department.

In addition to these scholarships, there are also opportunities for financial aid in the form of teaching or research positions at universities. Some universities may also offer work-study options or relevant job opportunities for graduate students. It is worth checking with your school to see what scholarships and financial aid opportunities are available.

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Scholarships for music students based on location

Many universities and colleges offer scholarships for music students based on location. Here are some examples:

United States

The University of Colorado Boulder's College of Music offers internal music scholarships to students who maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher. The Vandoren Emerging Artist Competition (VEA) is open to US musicians aged 18-23 who play the clarinet, saxophone, or perform jazz. The VSA International Young Soloists Program awards young musicians with disabilities, and ensembles with at least one member with a disability. The Gucci Changemakers North America Scholarship is for current or incoming college students majoring in marketing, art, design, film, communications, or other creative fields and is worth $20,000.

California

The Fahringer Scholarship is for Southern California residents with bleeding disorders or those who have an immediate family member with one. Applicants must be pursuing a major in music, arts, drama, or dance and reside in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Kern, Inyo, or Santa Barbara County.

Connecticut

The Micky Golomb Memorial Scholarship is for jazz musicians living in Fairfield County, Connecticut. The Jazz Society of Fairfield County offers up to $5,000 for tuition assistance to students enrolled in a music degree program pursuing jazz performance and/or education.

Wisconsin

The Miller Family Music Education Scholarship is available to graduates or graduating high school students residing in Door County or the Fox cities in Wisconsin. Applicants must plan to pursue studies in music or performance, with special consideration given to students from Gibraltar High School, Southern Door High School, and Sturgeon Bay High School.

Michigan

The Grand Rapids Community Foundation offers several scholarships for students in Western Michigan. The Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids Minority Scholarship is awarded to students of colour majoring in Fine Arts, including performing arts. The Guy D. and Mary Edith Halladay Music Scholarship is offered to a Kent County resident studying music at the graduate level at any college in the US. The Llewellyn L. Cayvan String Instrument Scholarship is for students studying the violin, viola, violoncello, or bass viol.

Virginia, Maryland, or Washington, D.C.

The Karen Von Bernewitz Scholarship supports students who share her love for music and service.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, universities and colleges offer full scholarships to students performing in music. These scholarships are often merit-based and awarded to students with exceptional talent and academic performance. Some scholarships are also tailored to specific genres of music, such as jazz or classical.

You can find music scholarships by searching online platforms, such as scholarships.com, Scholarships360, Bold.org, and MajoringInMusic.com. You can also check with your university's financial aid office, as some schools offer their own scholarships for music students. Additionally, look into nonprofits in the performing arts space, as well as professional organizations you belong to or could join.

Eligibility requirements vary for music scholarships. Many scholarships are open to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in music programs at accredited colleges or universities. Some scholarships have specific requirements, such as majoring in a particular field related to music, demonstrating financial need, or belonging to a certain demographic group. Auditions, academic performance, and submissions of creative work are also common components of the selection process.

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